Talk by author Miri Yu

Miri Yu is a multi award-winning Japanese author of Korean descent from Yokohama, Japan. Although now known foremost for prose, Yu's artist life started as an actress in the Tokyo Kid Brothers theatre troupe, before her attentions turned to playwriting, and literary works of both fiction and non-fiction. Through Yu's (semi)autobiographical literary endeavours, Yu found catharsis for the turbulent childhood she lived through. Yu's works cover a range of real-life topics, such as Japan's high suicide rate, the neglect of children, and the troubles faced by those of arguably ambiguous national identity, such as the zainichi kankokujin group (ethnic Koreans born and raised in Japan), a number of which Yu has first-hand experience of. Yu has won numerous awards for her works, including the coveted Akutagawa Prize in 1997 for Kazoku Shinema ("Family Cinema"), and has a vast readership in both Japan and South Korea, with her works being translated into several other languages, including Gold Rush which was translated into English in 2002 by Stephen Snyder. Tilted Axis Press will be releasing the English translation of Yu's 2014 JR Ueno-eki koen-guchi (“JR Ueno Station Park Entrance”) in 2018.

In anticipation of her new translation, the Japan Foundation is proud to host a special talk with Miri Yu, who will discuss her works and colourful life in conversation with Tilted Axis Press Founder Deborah Smith. Together they will explore various topics, such as the blurry boundary between fiction and real life experiences in Yu's works, and how her works echo modern Japan's issues and resonate with her readership.

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